Building block



H. M. KNIGHT murmur; BLOCK April 16, 1929.-

Filed March 1926' 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1929. H. M. KNIGHT BUILDING BLOCK Filed March 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet Aril 6, 1929. H. M. KNIGHT 1,709,403

BUILDING BLOCK Filed March 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 16, 1929. H. M. KNIGI-IIT 1,709,403

BUILDING BLOCK Filed March 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. M. KNIGHT BUILDING amok Fig. 55

Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT M; KNIGHT, OF MONTCIJAIR, NEW JERSEY. I

BUILDING BLOCK.

Application filed March 9, 1926. Serial No. 93,442.

This invention relates to blocks fonbuilding and structural purposes, and specifically relates to a block having longitudinal depres sions in two opposite faces thereof so disposed,

as, when said depressions are in juxtaposition with similar depressions in adjacent or superimposed blocks. to form channels, or ducts for specific purposes.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a block of 2 cross section Another object of the invent-ion is to provide a block of Z section with oblique angled junctures of the uprights and longitudinals; Another object of the invention is to provide a block of 2 section, the uprights of which have outwardly projecting skew-backs thereon; Another object of the invention isto provide a block of Z section the longitudiuals of which have rebates and tongues oppositely disposed on the outer arrises thereof. A further obiect of the invention is to provide a block which, when incorporated with other and similar blocks in a structure, shall automatically lock in two or more directions. Still a further object of the invention is to provide a block which, in company with other and sim ilar blocks, when disposedin an'arch construction, shall be initially self supporting. Another object of the invention isto provide a block of Z section with depressions in one or both of the faces of the longitudinalsso disposed as that. when assembled with otherand similar blocks in a structure, ducts or channels are created for use as conduits, or

: for other purposes. Still another object: of the invention is to provide a block. which by interlocking with other and similar blocks, makes the use of a centre or other supporting means unnecessary. A further object of the an invention is to provide a block, which, when in a structure and acting with other andsimilar blocks, and in cases where a veneering is required exterior to said blocks, shall provide a locking means as between said blocks and said veneer.

invention is to provide a block. which, when assembled with other blocks, shall form a self contained lintel. Still other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings. v

The ccompanying drawings, Figs. 1 to 37 are illustrative of the invention, and indicate the usual and preferred embodiment thereof. They are however illustrative only and are not to be considered as inclusive of Still a further object of the all types in which the invention may be embodied, nor as exclusive of other types than that indicated.

I illustrate my invention by the accompanying drawings in which Fig.1 is an isometrical view of the corner of a'structure built up of a multiple of blocks laid on horizontal beds;

F ig. 2 is a face view of a single block; Fig. 3

is a cross-section 'ofsuch a bloek'on the line 33 of F g. 2; Fig. l is an isometric view of a corner of a structure built up of a multiple of blocks laid up on vertical beds; Fig. 5 is a face view .of such a block as is employedin Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a thin wall composed of such blocks on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a wide wall on the same line as Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a horizontal view on the line 88 of Fig. 13', of a block incorporated in a conduit structure; Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section of such a conduit structure on the line 99 of Fig. 13 Fig. 10 is a horizontal view-of a block in a conduit'structure on the line 10-10 of Fig. 17 ;'Fig. 11 is a 1 side elevation of a conduit structure on the line'1111 of Fig. 13; Fig. 12is a vertical cross-section of a conduit structure ontheline 1212--ofFig. '13; Fig. .13 is a vertical crosssectionflof a conduit on the line 13-13 of Fig.

'11; Fig. 14i's a vertical cross-section of an individual block used in a conduit structure,

on'the line-1el14 of Fig 17 Fig. 15 is a crossa bonding'block for use in connection with a veneer; Fig. 20-is a cross-section of-sucha bonding block onthe line 2020 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an isometric viewof a single block,

such'a's isdescribed in this application; Fig. 22 is across-section of a porous building block on theline 22-22 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a face view of a plain hlock without skew-backs; Fig. 24: is a cross-section of such a block for use at a corner of a structure on the line 24c *24 of Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a' cross-section ofner, on the line 25.-25 of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is a cross-section of a wall of a structure on the line 26-26 of Fig. 27 through an opening in said wall showing the use-of the block as a lintel; Fig. 27 is a face view of such a lintel,

on'the line 2727 of Fig. 26'; Fig. 2 8 is an such a plain block for use at other than a corisometric view of a single lint-el block; Fig. 29 is a face view of a all opening, showing such an opening spanned by lintel blocks, on the line 29-29 of Fig. 30; Fig. 30 is a face view showing the employment of the block in an interior partition Fig. 31 is a cross-section. of; such a partition on the line Ell-81 of Fig. 30; Fi a transverse section of a multiple tier block on the line 32-32 of Fig. 83; Fig. 33 is a longitudinal section of a multiple tier block on the line 33-33 of Fig. 32; Fig. 3-1: is an isometric View of such a multiple tier block; Fig. .35is a transverse section on the line of'F'ig. 86, of a laterally otlsetted multiple tier block; Fig. 36 is a longitudinal section of such a block on the line 3636oi'i and Fig. 37 is an isometric view of such a laterally oitsetted multiple tier block.

Referring to the drawings in which similar figures refer to similar parts, 1 is a block of Z-section, having an extension 2, and an oppositely positioned extension 3, both oppositely positioned relative to a central body portion l. Rabbets 5, extend along the bottom arrises of one extension and of the body portion, and similar rabbets 6, extend along the top of the arrises of the opposite extension and ofthe body portion. Tongues 7, depend from one edge of an extension and body portion along the arris opposite to the rabbet 5, and similarly tongues 8, extend along the opposite edges of the body portion and extension, along the arris opposite to rabbet 6. Longitudinal depressions 9, extend along the face of the body portion and one ofthe extensions, and other depressions 10, extend along the face of the opposite extension and of the body portion. Beds 11, ex tend between the depressions, and between the depressions and the rabbets, and between the depressions and the tongues, which are along or upon one of the faces of the body portion and one of the extensions, and similar beds 12, are similarly situated as regards the opposite extension and the said body portion. Outwardly extending oblique skew-backs 13,

are formed upon the back of the body portion. in line with one of the extensions, and similar outwardly extending oblique skew-backs 14, are formed upon the back of the body portion in line with the opposite extension. Interior oblique skew-backs 15, are formed upon one of the extensions at the point of meeting of the said extension and the said body portion,and similar interior oblique skew-backs 16, are formed upon the opposite extension at the point of meeting'of the said extension and the said body portion. Exterior oblique skew-backs 17, and interior oblique skew-hacks 18, are formed upon the end of one .of the extensions, and similar exterior oblique skew-backs 19, and interior oblique skew-backs 20, are found upon the end of the opposite extension. Scorings 21,'are indented in the face of the body and of the extensions. A wall 22, is built up of a multiple of blocks laid on horizontal beds with horizontal air spaces 23, therein, and a finish coat of stucco 52 i, thereon. it. wall 25, is built up of a multiple of blocks laid with vertical beds and having air sq ices 26, therein. Ties 27, connect the outer blocks 28, and the inner blocks 29.

A conduit line, conu osed of a multiple of blocks, has staggered transverse joints'i-l l, between vertically juxtaposed courses. Tube liners 35, are placed in the upper depressions of the blocks and tube liners 36, are placed in the lower depressions of the blocks. Key- Ways 40, in the upper faceof a. block register with key-ways 39, in the lower face of a superimposed bloclr and keys ll, are positioned in said hey-ways.

With reference to Figures 18 to 25 inclusive, on which wil be noted thatdepressions 42 are formedin the longitudinal interior division walls of the'said blocks. Certain of the blocks have one longitudinal wall omitted, providing in place thereof a shouldcr .ll on which a veneer l3 rests. In construction of the wall, the blocks with depression l l may be uses at intervals, and with the veneer 43 as applied, said veneer may be tied in at the points where the shoulders a l are provided in the wall, as clearly shown in Figure 18.

, Referring now more especially to Figures 26 to 3%, bolts 45 are shown passing through the longitudinal cavities'10 in said blocks, said bolt-s having nuts 46 thereonf Transverse slots 48 are provided in the ends of said blocks, and in these slots are positioned spanners 47. The bolts 45 pass through appropriate'holes in the spanners 47, and said nuts 46 are applied to the bolts in engagement with saic spanners. Concrete 49 may be placed in the cavities of said blocks, as shown in Figure 26; Also, a ridge 50 may be formed longitudinally in the face of said bloeltand an angle-iron 51 positioned below said 'ridge'if so desired, as shown in Figure 26. 1

'VVhere found desirable, points 52 may be provided as shownin Figure 30 to engage depressions 53 in the horizontal edges of said-block. These points and depressions will aid in properly positioning one course with respect to the course below in building up a wall with my improved building blocks.

While the invention may be utilized with any of a great many materials, of which I prefer, clay and shale, it is also feasible to make the blocks of other materials such as concrete or cement, either in its usual solid constituency or with porosities 54 as indicated in Figures 21 and 27 formed in the body and upon the superficies of the saidjbloclts;

Blocks of multiple tiers have a superficies 55, of the central body, and a superficies 56, of one of the extensions. Other superficies 5?,

' Scorings 60, are formed on the superficies of the body and of the extensions. Other blocks have multiple lateral offsets, a bed 61, being adapted to engage a superficies 62, of a similar and contiguous block, and other beds 63, being adapted to engage superficies (i l, of the said similar and contiguous block. Fracture lines 65, are indented in the outer skin of the said blocks.

The blocks illustrated and described in this application are adapted to manufacture, either by hand, in a single block machine or in an augermachine producing blocks in a continuous stream, and are susceptible of being molded equally well in clay, gypsum, concrete or similar materials.

In the construct1on of buildings the method "usually employed consists in the assembling of a large number of relatively small, solid units of limited dimensions. These units are so assembled and superimposed as that the joints of successive courses are staggered, or broken. A cementing means is usually employed to attach the various and adjacent units together. This results in a solid structure, the Walls whereof are without voids or cavities and in which there is usually a great superfiuity of material above that required for strength or integrity. Occasionally in place of a solid block or unit, units having cavities or voids therein are employed for the purpose of reducing the weight of the said Walls and of'economizing the material employed in said Wall structures. In this latter case the said cavities are integral Within the said blocks or units, an envelop of the material composing the said block surrounding the said cavity or cavities. In the case ofthis latter type of construction it becomes necessary to assemble the various hollow units in such manner as that joints may be staggered and that ribs or spines may be in certain predetermined and necessary locations in order to carry the loads, 'an operation, as in the case of the solid wall, requiring great skill and experience 011 the part of the individuals employed. Because of this methodof laying or assembling, single and continuous channels or airspaces have been nearly impossible, and the lightness, or amount of air space in a given wall, has been limited. By the'block herein illustrated it becomes possible, because ofthe fact that an air space Within the wall is cre- I ated through theformation of cavities resulting from the juxtaposition of depressions upon the adjacent faces of the blocks, to secure continuous and uniform ducts or air spaces within a structure, and, in addition, by

separating the blocks at greater or less distances apart, the size of such air spaces may be varied at Will, without adding to the amount of material consumed in the construction of the said Wall. Furthermore, and because of the fact that continuous and uniform ducts or spaces are formed throughout the structure due to the cells created by placing the said'b-locks upon-orbedside each other, the

block becomes at once, and without modificablock is equally usable either for a wall or in a conduit.

In the usual type of building construction, in Which amultiple of single and similar units are assembled to produce a Wall, such wall or unit is made stable and secure by bonding or tieing the units together, but all such bonding requires special and varying position ofthe different units in a single course, requires that courses shall be carefully and skillfully positioned above and below each other, and no single course or unit is in and of itself selfsust-aining, or can remain inposition if deprived of the support of other and adjacent courses or units. The block herein illustrated automatically bonds itself both ver-- tically and transversely and in either a single unit or in a multiple of units are self sustain ing without the co-operation of the joining cement ifother and adj acent courses or units are removed. Rabbets and tongues are so formed along the various arrises as to interlock the various units transversely ofgthe structure with the units of the courses above and below create abond or tie with the other blocks mak ing up the structure.

' The upper and lower extensions are similar in all respectsso that the left over-dang of one block fits into the right over-hang of the adjacent unit, and vice versa.

In the case of structures composed of a single course such as an arch construction, lightness may be secured bythe of perforations through the units without changing the form of the block as regards right and left extensions, rabbets or tongues. Such an arch can be laid up after asingle course has been laid, Withoutthe further use of centering, as,

due to the staggering of the transverse joints andthe automatic bond which results from the contact between the skew-backs of the lower face body and the extensions, each block is locked in position when and as placed, by the blocks which have previously been placed. Such a form of blocltaclmits of very rapid and economical construction, due to the elimination of much of the temporary centering otherwise required. 7

These blocks are likewise, as above recited, specially adapted to the construction of conduits for electric wires. The depressions in the upper face of one'course of blocks registering with similar depressions in the of a SUPGllIDPOSGCl course, produces continuous ducts, which can be utilized directly as channels for wires, or the depressions may be lined with material of high dielectric character, making theinsulation of the wires more nearly perfect. These lines may break joint with the transverse joints between the blocks, further protecting the wires or cables within the ducts from moisture. The unit blocks composing such a conduit are similar, so that from time to time additional blocks may be superimposed upon those already in position and new ducts or channels created thereby. For the purpose of more securely fastening such conduit blocks together and sealing the joints between them against the infiltration of inoisture, the-blocks may be provided along both longitudinal edges of the upper and lower faces with re-entrant grooves, the said grooves of juxtaposed blocks registering. Keys, inserted in said registering grooves, and cemented therein, join the said blocks immovably together. Such a form of conduit requires no envelop of concrete for strength or permanence, the blocks furnishing in and of themselves all of the elements of .impermeability, strength and permanence necessary. In addition a conduit of such interlocking blocks is stronger than a conduit of ducts surrounded by a concrete envelop, as the latter has little or no ability to act as an arch and is to a very limited degree capable of self-support. V The conduit of interlocking blocks possesses the advantage of being self sustaining, even if the support-- ing material be removed for a considerable distance.

Due'to the fact that as each block lies in at least two planes, the face of a wall constructed thereof has a stepped or staggered appearance. For the sake of uniform and artistic effect it therefore usually becomes desirable to apply a coat of stucco ora veneer outside of the blocks. In the case of stucco this can easily be applied. A veneer of brick, however, necessitates effective means of uniting the same to the blocks composing the wall. This is done by the use of laterally offsetted blocks either in one or more planes, and headers from the veneer resting upon these offsets firmly unite the veneer to the blocks composing the Wall.

Laterally otlsetted blocks in two or more planes, which said blocks are provided with extensions to their body portions, provide a means for tying a wall together at every source both vertically, longitudinally and laterally, and produce the strongest wall possible, relative to Weight.

This block also presents a means for obtaining a lintel for spanning windows or other openings, the addition of a tie-rod and concrete being all that is necessary in order to make'the block perfectly adapted to such use.

As recited in the beginning hereof, the block can be fabricated by anyof the means commonly employed at present in the manu facture of brick, tile or building blocks composed of clay, gypsum or concrete. The design is one that does not clogjn the molds, and, in continuous ope 'ations, such as in auger machines, the cutter atone operation forms the opposing extensions of two blocks,

produces the interlocking skewbacks and separates the completed blocks from the clay ribbon being exuded through the throat.

ll hat I claim is 1. A building block composed of a central or body, portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and said extensions having longitudinal open channels so arranged that. the said channels in said extensions are prolongations of the channels in said body portion.

2. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said eXtensins being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and said extensions having longitudinal open channels, said channels in said extensions being prolongations of said channels in said body portion, rabbets along one edge of said portion and of said extensions and tongues along the opposite edge of said portion and each extension, said'rabbets and said tongues of one extension being oppositely positioned relative to said rabbets and said tongue of the other extension.

body portion, said body portion also having longitudinalcavities substantially parallel to said channels and having rabbets along one edge of said portion and of said extensions,

and tongues along the opposite edge of said portion and each extension, said rabbets and said tongues of one extension being oppositely positioned relative to said rabbet and said tongue of the other extension.

4. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being op} posite to each other relative to two diameters of said body Portion, said body portion and said extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of the channels in said body 5 portion, and said body portion providing protruding oblique skew-backs on theexterior thereof at the ends of said channels opposite to said extensions and oblique skew-backs on the exterior of said extensions at opposite ends of said channels, said skew-backs on said extensions and said skew-backs on said body portion being adapted to engage and interlock.

5. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and said extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of the channels in said body portion, said block also having faces substantially parallel to said channels and having scorings in said faces.

6. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and said extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of the channels in said body portion, said extensions having faces on the opposite side thereof from the channels, said faces having scorings therein normal to said channels.

7. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of said channels in said body portion, and said body portion and extensions having re-entrant grooves along edges thereof for zeying adjacent blocks together. 7 8. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said'body. portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being'op posite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of said channels in said body portion, said body and extensions having oblique skew-backs at the ends of said channels for interlocking with adjacent blocks in a direction longitudinally of said channels, and having grooves along the edges of said vbody portion and said extensions parallel to said channels for interlocking adjacent blocks in a direction transverse to said channels.

9. A building block composed of a central or body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and extensions having longitudinal open channels with the channels in said extensions prolongations of said channels in said body portion, said body and extensions having oblique skew-backs at the ends of said channels for interlocking with adjacent blocks in a direction longitudinally of said channels, and having re-entrant grooves along the edges of said body portion and said extensions parallel to said channels for keying adjacent bhicks in a direction transverse to said channe s.

10. A building block composed of a body portion, oppositely positioned extensions to said body portion of less thickness than said portion, said extensions being opposite to each other relative to two diameters of said body portion, said body portion and one of said extensions having a longitudinal open channel so arranged that the said channel in saidextension is a prolongation of the channel in said body portion.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of March, A. D. 1926.-

HERBERT M. KNIGHT. 

